Jeannette Y. Wick, RPh, MBA, FASCP

Regular consumption of white fish may reduce the cholesterol concentration, waist circumference, and blood pressure components of metabolic syndrome.

The missing link between environmental and genetic risk factors for type 2 diabetes suggests a new scientific approach is needed, which is where the emerging field of nutrigenetics comes into play.

Researchers associated with US Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers have examined the impact of group medical clinics on lipid control among patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

New study results suggest low levels of vitamin during the first trimester are a modest yet consistent and independent risk factor for developing gestational diabetes and are associated with insulin resistance at the second trimester.

A team of researchers have pinpointed the factors that influence endocrinologists' referral patterns for endocrine surgery.

While the dangers of influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia in patient with diabetes are well understood, less known is the fact that diabetics are at increased risk for contracting hepatitis B if they share blood glucose meters, finger stick devices, or other diabetes-care equipment.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 84% of wrong-site orthopedic surgery claims result in indemnity payments over a 10-year period, representing financially burdensome settlements.

Though most studies on the preoperative use of intra-aortic balloon pumps in coronary artery bypass grafting patients have reported early results, they have not been able to determine long-term outcomes.

For patients who emerge from epilepsy surgery seizure-free, the complex relationship between depression, anxiety, and seizure control does not guarantee better quality of life.

Recent research suggests low skeletal muscle mass is associated with increased endogenous insulin secretion, especially in patients aged older than 65 years.

As surgical site infections are some of the most common postsurgical complications, finding supplies that can reduce their likelihood is critical.

Since obesity increases inflammation and changes metabolism, it has been strongly linked to many lifelong medical conditions.

Among hospitals with solid income streams, one might expect the quality of care to be high. However, postsurgical mortality rates and patient-safety indicators showed high-price hospitals perform worse on inpatient care quality than low-price facilities.

The nutritionally skewed "Western" diet relies on processed foods that foster obesity and may even promote autoimmune diseases.

Since clinicians at US Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals are concerned that their hip fracture patients will not return to their preoperative functional levels, many wonder if particular types of rehabilitation can improve postoperative outcomes.

With a focus on how obesity affects the lungs, a team of researchers examines insulin's direct impact on lung cells in the context of airway remodeling and hyperresponsiveness.

A recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association includes a picture series that is a must-see for physicians who treat patients with diabetes.

Researchers from Finland find high depressive burden is associated with greater disability from the time of lumbar spinal stenosis surgery, including the 5-year point.

Though warfarin is often used to prevent coagulation and treat existing blood clots, many questions arise when geriatric patients who take the anticoagulant fracture a hip.

With a focus on visceral functions, researchers from Italy retrospectively evaluated aortic arch surgery using selective antegrade cerebral perfusion at different temperatures.

Although operating room (OR) efficiency and patient safety improve when a Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) is used, OR personnel do not always implement SSCs, mainly due to checklist fatigue or the perception that the extra steps take too much time.

Although preoperative fasting is intended to address stomach acid and prevent the aspiration of gastric contents, some experts believe it is based more on tradition than necessity.

The United States government has lifted a federal ban on the transplantation of organs from deceased HIV-infected donors to HIV-infected recipients, and the ramifications of this action are expected to be great.

Although surgeons are not specifically trained to assess patients' ability to drive while wearing a leg cast, a team of researchers found that insurance companies and police forces look to doctors to advise their patients on driving.

Among its comprehensive review articles on spinal deformities, fractures, and other pediatric orthopedic conditions, the December 2013 issue of Surgery includes a concise and interesting article on the many foot problems orthopedic surgeons may encounter in children.

Despite advances in treatment, persistent pain after breast surgery is still a significant clinical problem.

While kidney paired donation (KPD) is not a new concept, it may be the most promising avenue for increasing organ availability.

Though bariatric surgery offers obese patients the opportunity to take off and keep off excess weight, those who experience rapid weight loss after surgery have a greater risk of developing gallstones.

Until recently, it was unclear whether high-protein diets accelerate renal disease in susceptible individuals - including the roughly half of all diabetics who experience complete renal failure as a result of elevated glucose levels overworking the kidneys.

A review assembled by investigators from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital specifically focuses on endocrine and metabolic complications in childhood cancer survivors.